SacTown Talks

Author: Jarhett Blonien

Weekly News Roundups and Conversations with Californias Leaders in Politics and Policy.
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Language: en-us

Genres: News, Society & Culture

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Rats, Disease & California Politics: The Debate Nobody Wants to Have
Episode 354
Thursday, 14 May, 2026

In this episode of Sac Town Talks, Russell Lowery welcomes Renee Pinel from Western Plant Health to discuss California’s growing rat infestation crisis and the public health, agricultural, and policy challenges tied to it. From Los Angeles overtaking Chicago as the nation’s top city for rat infestations to the spread of diseases like hantavirus and plague, Renee explains how rising rodent populations are impacting both urban neighborhoods and California farms. The conversation dives into homelessness, food safety, farmworker health, pest control policy, and the debate over balancing environmental protections with effective rodent management tools. Renee also breaks down why current pest control strategies may be falling short and what California policymakers are considering next. If you want a deeper understanding of how pest control, public health, agriculture, and politics intersect in California, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.